R. Kelly releases ‘I admit’ song to answer critics

R&B singer R. Kelly, whose career has been under siege in recent months amid allegations of sexual misconduct, is fighting back.

Kelly on Monday released a surprise song, a 19-minute confessional titled “I Admit” that addresses years of unflattering headlines about his private life.

Beginning line after line with “I admit …” the singer confesses to a multitude of acts, including infidelity, sleeping with his girlfriend’s best friend, having sexual relationships with fans and going to strip clubs every week.

“I admit I was in my own way,” he sings.

Acknowledging he’s “made some mistakes” and has “imperfect ways,” Kelly also says he tried to help others in the music industry who turned on him.

Kelly’s name was trending on Twitter Monday as reactions to “I Admit” poured in.

But fans of the singer cheered the song, which also takes aim at such Kelly critics as singer John Legend, talk show host Wendy Williams and journalist Jim DeRogatis.

CNN reached out to Kelly’s management for comment on the song and has not heard back.

Kelly has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Kelly’s long history of accusations of impropriety with young women date back to 1994, when the singer was 27 years old and reportedly married his 15-year-old protegee, singer Aaliyah. The marriage was annulled after Aaliyah’s family became aware of it, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

In 1996, Tiffany Hawkins filed suit against him and his record, publishing and management companies, claiming personal injuries and emotional damage arising from what she alleged was a sexual relationship she had with Kelly that began when she was 15.

That case was settled out of court — as was a suit brought in 2001 by former Epic Records intern Tracy Sampson, who claimed she began a sexual relationship with the singer when she was 17.

In 2002, Kelly was indicted on child pornography charges for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with an unidentified underage girl. The case went to trial in 2008 and he was acquitted.

Kelly, 51, one of the biggest R&B stars of the 1990s, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. But in the age of #MeToo and #TimesUp, the musician has been increasingly under fire for a number of alleged recent transgressions.

In 2017, a 24-year-old woman alleged she has a sexual relationship with Kelly when she was 16. Kelly denied the accusation and no criminal charges were filed.

Last July an explosive buzz feed written by DeRogatis, claimed the singer was holding a group of adult women against their will as part of what some of their parents said was a “cult.” Kelly would not comment, but his attorney dismissed the “debunked” allegations in an email to Buzzfeed. One of the women later denied publicly that she was being “brainwashed” by Kelly and said, “I’m totally fine.”

And in May a 20-year-old woman filed suit against the singer, claiming he unlawfully gave her alcohol, assaulted her and gave her a sexually transmitted disease. Representatives for Kelly declined to comment.

Kelly claims to have been sexually abused by a family member from when he was a child to age 14.

“So scared to say something, so I just put the blame on me,” he sings.

He also admits to dropping out of school, telling lies, drinking and smoking too much, not being able to read because of dyslexia and not owning his own music.

And he says that “I’m at rock bottom.”

Kelly admits to being involved with “both older and young ladies,” but then asks, “But tell me how they call it pedophile because that is crazy.”

The singer dismisses claims that he “brainwashed” or “kidnapped” women as “silly” and accuses a father of dropping his daughter off at the concert where she and the singer met.

A growing chorus of celebrities have urged the entertainment industry to cut ties with Kelly. A handful of his concerts in the past year were canceled, and Spotify announced in May it was removing Kelly from all its playlists and algorithmic recommendations.

As of Monday evening, “I Admit” does not appear on Spotify.

In “I Admit,” Kelly lashes out at his many critics.

“Now I don’t know what else to say except, I’m so falsely accused. Tell me how can you judge when you’ve never walked in my shoes,” he sings.

“You may have your opinions, entitled to your opinions, but really am I supposed to go to jail or lose my career because of your opinion?

“Yeah, go ahead and stone me, point your finger at me, turn the world against me, but only God can mute me.”

That last phrase seems to be a response to the #MuteRKelly online movement against the singer.

Victims’ rights groups don’t have much sympathy for the singer.

“Laws aren’t opinions,” said Jodi Omear, a spokeswoman for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, when contacted by CNN about Kelly’s song. “Laws are created to ensure that we can all live in a civilized society. Laws are what protect children from predators.”

eDaily is an entertainment and lifestyle website that caters to young, trend-savvy and aspirational audiences. Focusing on East Africa’s vibrant entertainment scene, the website is a credible source for all your showbiz news.